In the next couple of weeks, a long Cup draught will finally come to an end. So which one will it be? At the start of the season, these two teams were picked by many to meet in the big dance; however, the road by which we got here wasn't at all foreseeable. The Hawks took care of business, as expected, in the West, with little fanfare. The Flyers have had a run for the ages that started on the last night of the regular season, took us through a historic Round 2 comeback, and finished with a smack down on the Cinderella Canadiens.

This really is the story on both sides of the rink. The Flyers entered the playoffs with the ageless stigma of questions in net. Going back several decades, the team has never been able to nail down a solid #1 option good enough to match the talent in front of him. Who could have seen then, that after 3 rounds of action, the Flyers have the 2 best goalies, statistically, in the playoffs. Should Boucher manage to recover from his knee injuries in the next week, there's a possibility of a goaltending controversy late into the Final round (should Leighton falter).
As for the Hawks, Niemi has been everything they prayed for and more. He comes into the final round as a favorite for the Conn Smythe trophy, thanks to his solid, consistent play throughout the first 3 rounds. While the big names this year either didn't qualify or were ousted early in the playoffs, a handful of lesser knowns have stepped up to steal the spotlight. Here are some impressive stats to consider among the 3 men protecting the pipes:

Name

Games

Wins

GAA

Save %

Shutouts

Antti Niemi

16

12 (1st)

2.33 (tied 2nd)

.921 (4th)

2 (2nd)

Michael Leighton

8

6

1.45 (1st)

.948 (1st)

3 (1st)

Brian Boucher

10

6

2.33 (tied 2nd)

.915

1

Given the performance of these men to this point, there is no reason to believe that either side holds an edge in this category. Neither Niemi nor Leighton have ever played in a situation like this before, so there's little history to go on there. Consider this a wash.

Offense:

Both teams can bring a variety of scoring to the table, with top end talent spilling down to the third line. Neither team has to depend too much on just one or two guys to get it done, which is obviously what you need to make it this far. In the regular season, the Hawks outscored the Flyers by a considerable margin, and that was without Hossa for a good portion of the year. Then again, they seem to have advanced to the Finals without Hossa producing in the playoffs as well. Eventually, he's bound to find the net, which means additional trouble for the Flyers.
In addition to Hossa, the Hawks bring two star forwards on one line with Toews and Kane. Byfuglien has conjured up the ghosts of John Druce and Fernando Pisani to lead the team in goal scoring thus far. Add to the mix offensive talent like Bolland, Sharp, and Versteeg, and it's going to be tough for Philadelphia to shut them down, the way they were able to do against lesser opposition.
The Flyers are no slouch up front either, and they've shown the are willing to play hurt to win. Despite going down with "season ending injuries", Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter, and Ian Laperriere have all returned and played significant roles. Briere and Richards have been earning their big bucks by leading the team in scoring, but the most significant contributions may be those from youngsters Claude Giroux and Ville Leino. Leino in particular has shown incredible skill on a team where he could easily get lost in the mix.
Tough to say who has the edge in this department, but every shift should provide adequate excitement for the fans.

Defense:

This will be the first major challenge that the Flyers have faced this postseason. Up until now, their competition has been extremely hurting in terms of offensive firepower, which may go a long way towards explaining their incredible goals against average thus far. After all, what is there to fear in the likes of New Jersey, Boston, and Montreal, the 3 lowest scoring regular season teams in the East to qualify for the playoffs. Those three team combined for 645 goals in the regular season. Compare that to the 761 goals for scored by Chicago's opposition (Vancouver, Nashville, and San Jose).
The Flyers have taken a top-heavy approach through the first 3 rounds, relying almost exclusively on the top two pairings. Pronger, Timmonen, Coburn and Carle have averaged close to 30 minutes a game a piece. It remains to be seen if all four of these horses can be driven so hard for so long. If they can maintain the pace, then Coach Laviolette is wise to ride his top guns. If one or more start to sputter, they might start to expose a weakness.
Chicago easily matches the Flyers in terms of top end talent. Duncan Keith, the likely front runner for this year's Norris Trophy, is showing the world what hockey players are made of after losing 7 teeth without missing a shift. The Hawks are deeper on defense, and can generate more offense from the backend than the Flyers can. Since they can trust their depth players a bit more, Keith, Seabrook, and Campbell can stay a little more rested, which should help them as the series goes on. Advantage Chicago.

Outlook:

History shows that this is an endurance contest, and the team that ultimately goes on to win more often than not enjoys a short series along the way to heal their wounds. Chicago faced much better competition so far, and dispatched their opponents in fewer games. After sweeping the Sharks, the Blackhawks should be at 100% going into game 1. After having to battle back to win round 2 in 7 games, the Flyers did themselves a favor by making quick work of Montreal. Going back to the Boston series, it's debatable which says more about the team: the fact that they have what it takes to come back in any series, or the fact that they ever went down 3-0 to such a weak opponent.
Bottom line is that these teams match up quite well and for both squads, this will be their toughest opponent yet. Forget the seeds, Philadelphia and Chicago have both proven they deserve to be here. Ultimately, Chicago's defense will most likely outlast the big four from Philly, giving the Hawks their first title since 1961, thus making the Toronto Maple Leafs the new New York Rangers.

Prediction:

Chicago in 6.

Series:

0-0

San Jose Sharks (1)

Chicago Blackhawks (2)

Overview:

With all of the chaos that the Stanley Cup playoffs have delivered, it's almost surprising to see the top two teams actually advancing to the Western Conference finals. This sets the stage for a classic series where neither team can truly be favored over the other.

Both goalies have been good, but not great, in the playoffs so far. Antti Niemi came out of the gate flying, posting 2 shutouts in the opening series against Nashville. He had a much tougher challenge in Round 2 against the high scoring Canucks, but he didn't miss a beat. He enters round 3 with a 2.57 GAA and a .909 save percentage.
Evgeni Nabokov has stumbled a couple times this postseason, but for the most part has delivered his normal steady goaltending for the Sharks. He edged Niemi in GAA, with a 2.43, but is slightly behind with a .907 save percentage. He'll have to avoid the meltdown games against the Hawks, who are fully capable of scoring in bunches.

Offense:

Both of these teams are capable of putting up big numbers, having finished 2nd and 3rd in total goals out West in the regular season. Chicago features some superstar talent in Toews, Kane, and Hossa, while the Sharks can throw out a top line of Marleau, Thornton and Heatley to match. The big story so far has been the surprising play of Joe Pavelski, who has racked up 9 goals in 11 games. He's gotten good help from Ryan Clowe and Devon Setoguchi to bring a commanding 2nd line scoring threat to the series.
Chicago has also been getting contributions down their roster, as Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, and Dave Bolland have all contributed offensively to the cause. It remains to be seen if Byfuglien can distract Nabokov and repeat the havoc he generated against the Canucks.

Defense:

Neither of these teams are hurting when it comes to quality players on the blueliner, which likely explains why they've made it this far. Despite a couple of awkward own-goals, Dan Boyle has contributed with 9 points in 11 games, while Douglas Murray and Rob Blake have held the fort defensively for the Sharks.
The Blackhawks haven't gotten the goalscoring they've come to expect from their defense yet, but the crew has been solid in preventing chances. Seabrook, Keith, and Campbell have just 3 goals between them through two rounds. If they start to contribute from the point, it could balance the scales in favor of Chicago.

Outlook:

Making predictions this playoff season has been a joke of an effort, but that's not going to stop us now. Expect a lopsided game or two along the way with all the offense on the ice this series. In the end, expect to see Hossa back on the stage for the third straight season.

Prediction:

Chicago in 6.

Series:

Chicago wins 4-0.

Philadelphia Flyers (7)

Montreal Canadiens (8)

Overview:

When's the last time a team had to win the last game of the season to qualify for the playoffs, then ended up with home ice advantage in the Conference Finals? These are strange days we're witnessing in the NHL. Just try picking a winner at this point.

In a postseason with many fascinating stories, perhaps the biggest one is the play of Jaroslav Halak. Then again, how did the Flyers make it this far with their goal recycling program? Clearly one team has leaned heavily on this position, while the other has gotten by with whatever they can find. Halak doesn't have to single handedly steal games the way he did in the first two round, but don't be surprised if he does it anyway.

Offense:

The Canadiens aren't the most threatening bunch of characters, but they score when they need to. Kind of reminds me of a Montreal team from 1993. The Flyers continue to rotate forwards as they suffer and heal from various freakish ailments. Regardless of who they insert up front, they've found a way to score goals and come back despite silly odds against them.

Defense:

The names on the Canadiens roster won't impress you much, but if you've watched the job they've done to this point, you just have to tip your hat. Can they keep it up? While the Flyers can't match the Penguins or Caps in terms of top tier superstar talent, they may be more of a threat, as they can bring a balanced array of scorers across all their lines. The likes of Subban, Georges, and Gill will have to continue to block shots they way they have for 14 games.
The Flyers defense is a mixed bag, but you can't deny the outstanding job Pronger has done to lead this crew.

Outlook:

Ask me 10 times who will win this series, and I'll probably waffle like John Kerry and give you a different answer each time. It's that close and that unpredictable. For the first time this year, fans would not be surprised to see Montreal win a series. So, don't be surprised when they lose.

Prediction:

Flyers in 6.

Series:

Flyers win 4-1

Pittsburgh Penguins (4)

Montreal Canadiens (8)

Overview:

Can lightning strike twice? Montreal pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time by taking the Capitals down in 7 games. It's been a long time since the Canadiens have shown the magic they just conjured up , but a repeat performance would put this roster in the class of legends.

The story in Montreal starts and ends with Jaroslav Halak. He has been the most dominate player in the playoffs so far, and will have be just as good to keep his team alive. He showed in the Olympics that he's comfortable facing an insane number of shots against the best players in the world, and repeated that performance in Round 1. So, the evidence suggests, he won't be rattled when the Penguins roll 3 scoring lines against him.
On the other side of the rink is a puzzle. Marc-Andre Fleury was good enough to get the Pens past the Senators, but certainly wasn't considered a major reason for their round 1 victory. He was shaky at times, and solid at others, which is what Penguin fans have come to expect. As long as he keeps showing up at the right moments (and keeps getting them to the Finals) nobody will care much.

Offense:

While the Capitals were able to bring some superstars to the party, they don't boast the strength down the middle that Pittsburgh possesses. No team in the NHL can compare to Crosby, Malkin, and Staal at the center position. That means on virtually every shift, Pittsburgh has the potential to strike.
While Montreal can't compare to the size and talent of the Penguins, they have proven to be opportunistic. Their power play is one of the best in the league, and they'll have to rely on that to give them any chance of stopping Pittsburgh from rolling to the third round. Mike Cammalerri was solid for the Habs in Round 1, scoring 5 goals and 5 assists, and he'll be counting on to lead the rush for them against the Pens.

Defense:

Somehow, the Canadiens were able keep the big guns for Washington from finding the net. Most of that was due to an insane commitment to blocking shots. Had it not been for their defense blocking up the center of the ice, Halak would have been seeing 70 or 80 shots a game. They'll have to survive a similar onslaught in round 2.
The Penguins allowed just under 30 shots a game in round 1 versus the Senators. Their defense features a good mix of young puck movers, some veteran shot blockers, and a solid leader in Sergei Gonchar who is the best in the business at controlling the play.

Outlook:

I won't even consider the notion that Montreal can recreate the magic from round 1.

Prediction:

Pittsburgh in 5.

Series:

Montreal 4-3

Boston Bruins (6)

Philadelphia Flyers (7)

Overview:

In many ways, these teams are arriving at round 2 from the same place. Both teams stumbled into the playoffs and have suffered some injuries to this point. They both pulled off an upset in round 1, though neither one was shocking to see. They also both boast a lot of potential that was never realized in the regular season. So the question is, who will find their game first?

Everyone was down on the Flyers goaltending heading into the playoffs, as they are every year. Brian Boucher did everything in his power to shut those critics up. His play was suberb, and against a very weak Bruins offense, there's no reason to expect a sudden meltdown.
Boston's rookie netminder did his part in Round 1 after a stellar regular season. Tuukka Rask has relegated Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas to the bench for the remainder of play. With several of the big guns out for Philadelphia, Rask should keep his numbers low.

Offense:

Both teams are hurting to score goals. The Bruins were one of the worst teams in the league during the regular season. They didn't run it up on Buffalo in round 1 either. The return of Savard should help a little, but don't expect 4 goals a game from this crew.
The Flyers have the depth to score at any time. They're a couple big guns short with Carter and Gagne out of the lineup, so they'll have to rely on some youngsters to get it done.

Defense:

Both teams came up with some great defensive play in round 1 to help their teams advance. Zdeno Chara and Chris Pronger should provide plenty of pain for the other side, should they dare to approach the crease. The Flyers have an edge in this department, which may ultimately decide the series.

Outlook:

It's hard to pick a winner in this series. It should be tight every game, but expect the Flyers to ultimately outscore the Bruins by a slim margin.

Prediction:

Flyers in 6.

Series:

Flyers win 4-3.

San Jose Sharks (1)

Detroit Redwings (5)

Overview:

This isn't the first time in history that these perennial powers have clashed. In previous encounters, they've always produced memorable series and franchise-altering outcomes. 1994 gave us one of the biggest upsets in NHL history when the 8th seeded Sharks took down the top-ranked Redwings in 7. In 2007, Detroit got their revenge when San Jose choked in the Western Finals. The Sharks are favored to win, based on points and home ice advantage, but few onlookers would be shocked to see Detroit moving on to Round 3.

While both teams enjoyed quality goaltending during the regular season, the edge going into Round 2 has to go to San Jose. Despite one shaky performance, Nabokov has been very steady for the Sharks in the postseason, posting a GAA of 1.76 up to this point. In Detroit, Howard has been very inconsistent. He allowed 4 or more goals in all 3 of their losses, but ended the series on a high-note, allowing just one fluky goal in game 7 against the Coyotes.

Offense:

If there's one thing that both of these team have to spare, it's depth on offense. Both squads feature several lines of playoff tested forwards who can put the puck in the net. The big guns for Detroit picked up steam as Round 1 went on, culminating in an impressive 6-goal outburst in game 7. Henrik Zetterberg is tied for 2nd in post-season scoring with 11 points. He rounded out the series with 6 goals, while Pavel Datsyuk netted 5.
The Sharks managed to conquer Colorado without much help from their top line. That could be good or bad news. On one hand, they demonstrated they can rely on their other lines to pick up the slack. Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe and Devon Setoguchi all averaged at least a point a game. On the other hand, Detroit is not Colorado. San Jose is going to have to get their big guns scoring to outrun the Wings.

Defense:

One of the more shocking statistics coming out of Round 1 is the number of shots that Detroit allowed. The traditionally stingy Redwings allowed an average of 30+ shots against to a Phoenix team not known for running up the score. If Howard is forced to stop 30+ shots a night against the likes of Heatley, Marleau, Thornton and Pavelski, this could be a short series. On the plus side, Detroit had four defensemen with 5 or more points in the first round.
As for the Sharks, both Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray contributed offensively in round 1. They managed to hold the speedy Avalanche to about 25 shots a game.

Outlook:

It's just a matter of time before Thornton, Heatley and Marleau get on track. If San Jose's second line can keep up the pace, the Wings won't be able to give Howard the help he needs to get through to the Western Conference finals.

Prediction:

Sharks in 6.

Series:

Sharks 4-1

Chicago Blackhawks (2)

Vancouver Canucks (3)

Overview:

Nothing like a Round 2 rematch to get heat things up. Everyone remembers Luongo's final performance against the Hawks last season. He'll get a fair shot at redemption over the next two weeks.

Luongo's numbers in Round 1 give Canucks fans a lot to worry about. 2.92 GAA and .893 save % were good enough to get by LA. It won't be nearly good enough against the Hawks. If Vancouver wants any prayer at avoiding a repeat, Luongo is going to have to find his game. The good news is that he got better as Round 1 went on, and played very well in their final game.
As for Chicago, Niemi has put to bed the doubts in this position. He finished with 2 shutouts in his first 6 playoff games. With a GAA of 2.15, his play hasn't changed following a great rookie season. The play of either man could easily determine the outcome of this series.

Offense:

Vancouver and Chicago were far and away the top scoring teams in the West, separated by just one goal in the regular season. Both teams feature some serious top end talent that should make this series a fun one to watch. The Hawks were held in check a little better in Round 1 by a hot Pekka Rinne, while the Canucks kept the train rolling through their first 6 games, averaging 3.5 goals a game. Mikael Samuelsson is tied for 2nd in the playoffs with 11 points.

Defense:

Neither team demonstrated much offensive help from the back end in Round 1. That wasn't much of a shocker coming out of Vancouver, but the Hawks have come to depend a bit more on scoring from their defense. Expect the likes of Keith, Seabrook and Campbell to be a bit more active in this series than they were against the Predators.

Outlook:

With so much fire power up front on both rosters, this series will ultimately be decided by goaltending. Luongo still has a lot to prove in net, while Niemi is still showing the world what he can do in his first go at the postseason. Right now, I'm looking at Niemi as the stronger option.

Prediction:

Chicago in 6.

Series:

Chicago 4-2.

Washington Capitals (1)

Montreal Canadiens (8)

Overview:

The Caps didn't find out who their opponent would be until the final hours of the regular season. But do they even care? They've been sitting around waiting to see who their first victim would be for a couple weeks. So it turns out Montreal drew the short straw.

It's not common for a President's Trophy winning team to have a goalie controversy heading into the postseason, but that is the reality for the Caps once again. After all, it was just a year ago that Theodore went into Round 1 as the starter, only to be replaced by Varlamov before the first week was over. Will history repeat itself? Theodore is on an amazing winning streak; however, it's not clear who Coach Bruce will turn to next week. Theodore clearly has more experience, and should he be the guy, will give the Caps adequate, but not spectacular help in net.
The story has been largely the same for Montreal. Up until the Olympic break, it looked as if Carey Price would be given first stab, if this team somehow managed to squeek into the playoffs. Squeek in they did, but they did so in large part due to the play of the other guy. Jaroslav Halak has been one of the top goalies in the game during and after the Olympics. He's now the default option in Montreal. However, he's going to have to be near perfect to keep his team in any game in Round 1.

Offense:

This isn't even close. We're talking silly differences here. The Caps led the league with 318 goals for, while the Canadiens were near the bottom at 217. Do the math. That's more than 100 goals difference. That stat alone should be enough for you to pick the Caps in Round 1 in your office pool. We could go on and on about the depth in Washington versus the tininess of the Montreal forwards, but why bother? 101 goals different? Silly.

Defense:

So maybe this Capitals team does have a weakness, but for it to be felt, the Canadiens are going to have a draw a ton of power plays. Montreal boasts one of the better squads in the league with the man advantage, and despite winning 15 games more than their opponent, the Caps surrendered 10 more goals over the season. Will it be enough to provide a slight glimmer of hope for fans north of the border? No, sir, it won't.

Outlook:

You'd be a fool to bet against the Caps in Round 1.

Prediction:

Washington in 5.

Series:

4-3 Montreal

New Jersey Devils (2)

Philadelphia Flyers (7)

Overview:

Of the four matchups in Round 1 in the East, this is the one with the best chance to go the distance, and possibly supply an upset. The Flyers are enough of a mystery to keep everyone guessing on what to expect out of this squad. They entered the season as the pick of many to win it, then fell into a dark tailspin, and finally emerged somewhere in the middle. Meanwhile, the Devils have done what they always do, and head into playoffs as a team nobody wants to bet against, but nobody wants to pick either.

Obviously this is where the two teams are in completely different leagues, as they have been for the past decade. On one side of the Jersey border, you have perhaps the greatest goalie to ever play the game. And it doesn't appear like he's slowing down. Brodeur once again led the league in wins and shutouts.
On the other side, you see a team settling for their 3rd or 4th choice in net. Boucher has had some moments of brilliance in his career, so don't go writing him off just yet. It is Boucher who holds the modern day record for longest shutout streak, spanning 5 games back in 2004. The problem is that was 6 years ago and he hasn't showed many glimpses of that behavior in the past half decade.

Offense:

These teams actually match up pretty well when it comes to offense. They both feature some balanced scoring, and a couple of quality stars up front. New Jersey doesn't have to look to Parise to carry the entire load, as they did in 2009. With Kovalchuk and now Elias regaining his touch, they can spread the wealth around a little better. The Flyers have many weapons; however, consistency is the key. Richards, Carter, Gagne, and Briere can all be lethal at times. They also have some serious potential further down the lineup, if those guys can stay out of the box. The advantage here should go to the Flyers.

Defense:

In terms of name recognition, the Flyers actually have the edge here; however, the numbers tell a different story. The Devils allowed a league low 190 goals on the season. Of course, you can refer back to the goaltending category to explain a good bit of that. They did that with a relatively unknown group of defenders. Their best defenseman, Paul Martin, missed the vast majority of the season, so imagine what they would have done had he been there. The Flyers were in the middle of the pack on goals surrendered, despite featuring some high-profile players like Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, and Braydon Coburn. If these guys can keep their heads on straight and contribute offensively, it could be the difference in the series.

Outlook:

Again, this is the toughest to call. Ultimately, Brodeur will outclass Boucher and be enough to take this series.

Prediction:

Devils in 7.

Series:

4-1 Philadelphia

Buffalo Sabres (3)

Boston Bruins (6)

Overview:

The temptation is to look at the Sabres as evidence of the weakness in the East. That would be a big mistake. The Sabres get little credit and recognition in the league, partially because of so many past let downs. This just might be the year they surprise and earn some respect. As for their opponent… they're just happy to be here.

So, do you start the reigning Vezina Trophy winner that you just gave a huge contract extension to, or do you start the better goalie? It's going to be tough for Claude Julien to deny Tuukka Rask the crease when this series kicks off. He's been outstanding over the past couple of months, while his older counter-part has struggled mightily. Rask is obviously unproven in the playoffs, but he's shown no signs of cracking yet in his young career, so he'll get first go.
Meanwhile, the Sabres are blessed with this year's likely Vezina winner, or at a minimum, runner up to Brodeur. Miller was everything to team USA in the Olympics and means even more to the Sabres. Imagine this team without him. If he can keep up his level of play over the next two months, you can put his name on a short list of Conn Smythe candidates.

Offense:

The Bruins have had a catastrophic season in terms of offense. Their 206 goals was worst in the league, including all 14 teams that didn't make the cut. The loss of Kessel and the injuries to Savard caused havoc up and down the lines in Boston. There just weren't enough guns to pick up the slack. Don't expect that to change once the games start to mean more, particularly against a guy like Miller in net. Few observers would be shocked to see 2 or 3 shutouts in Round 1.
The Sabres on the other hand are one of the highest scoring teams in the league over the past couple months. And more importantly, they're doing it across several lines. Their top gun, Tomas Vanek, has been out for a good bit of the past month, and yet the team keeps scoring. Now that he's back (see his 4 goal performance on Sat), there's no need to worry about their ability to put the puck where it belongs.

Defense:

It's often said that you can't win the Cup without a fast, puck-moving defenseman. If that's true (and it's not - see Carolina 2006), the Sabres may be in trouble. Rookie Tyler Myers is as close as it gets. But if you're counting on a giant rookie to pound bodies and lead the rush, you're expecting a little too much. Defensively, this squad is more than adequate to get past the Bruins. The true test will come in Round 2 when they'll likely be facing some much stronger scoring threats.
It's no surprise that a team coached by Julien would count their defensive system as a key strength. Zdeno Chara is still a monster on a blue line, while the rest of the squad covers their own end well. Like the Sabres, they lack a true offensive threat on the back end.

Outlook:

With these two teams both finishing in the top 4 in the NHL in goals against, don't expect many highlights. In what should be a fairly uneventful series, the Sabres will emerge.

Prediction:

Buffalo in 6.

Series:

4-2 Boston

Pittsburgh Penguins (4)

Ottawa Senators (5)

Overview:

If you're looking for an entertaining series with some good recent history, you'll want to tune into this one. For the third time in four seasons, the Pens and Sens will do battle in Round 1, with plenty of offense to spare.

The Senators thought they had their guy in Pascal Leclaire at the start of the season. Through his injuries and inconsistent play, the door was opened for youngster Brian Elliot. Elliot has been very good for Ottawa and is the go-to guy in net.
Statistically, Elliot has an edge on Marc-Andre Fleury this season. He has him beat in every category but wins. However, when it comes to post-season experience and performance, there is no comparison. Fleury has forever silenced critics based on his play over the past two playoff runs. Just rewind the last 3 seconds of Game 7 against Detroit for a quick reminder. Both goalies in this series are capable of providing enough assistance to help their team get through round 1, but a slight edge has to go to Fleury.

Offense:

It's no surprise to find that Pittsburgh outscored the Sens by 32 goals over the course of the regular season. No team on Earth can match the Pens down the middle. With Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Talbot at the center position, the Pens are free to rotate wingers as they please and still have a scoring threat on the ice at all times. That fact alone makes them an easy choice as a favorite to repeat.
The Sens were dealt a tough blow with the loss of Kovalev. Though he ran cold for the past two months, the team was still banking on Kovalev being a 2nd line scoring threat. Now, the team is back in the same spot they've been in for years, putting all their hope in Spezza and Alfredsson's line. Mike Fischer and Milan Michalek can contribute offensively, but there's really no comparison here. The Pens will overpower the Senators when it comes to offense.

Defense:

The defense for the Senators just isn't what it used to be. Gone are the likes of Chara and Redden. They still feature a great pair of shutdown blueliners in Volchenkov and Phillips, which is exactly what they'll need to give themselves a chance against the Pittsburgh attack. Recently, rookie Erik Karlsson has caught fire. He enters the playoffs having scored 12 points in the last 10 games. While they're not imposing, this squad is good enough to make this a great series.
The Pens lost a significant element of their Stanley Cup run last summer when Rob Scuderi went to the Kings. They've auditioned several replacement, but Pittsburgh fans are still wondering who's going to be there to block the shots when Fleury starts scrambling out of position. Kris Letang was supposed to step up this season after a terrific playoff run last year. So far, we're still waiting. However, the Sens still have to contend with Brooks Orpik on the back end, and the most valuable member of the Pittsburgh defense is still running the power play for one more playoff run. Sergei Gonchar is still one of the best in the game at running the power play and carrying the puck up ice. If Gonchar gets hurt, as he's prone to do, the Pens will stumble.

Outlook:

Set the DVR up for some memorable games over the next two weeks as the scores promise to be high in this one. In the end, the Pens will pick up where they left off last spring and win this series.

Prediction:

Pens in 6.

Series:

4-2 Pittsburgh

San Jose Sharks (1)

Colorado Avalanche (8)

Overview:

Haven't we been here before? The Sharks find themselves at the top of the West yet again, yet surprisingly few fans are banking on them to come through. Guess we've just been burned too many times. So is the 2010 version of the Sharks story different enough to matter? It just might.

Evgeni Nabokov just hasn't been the same since getting rattled by Canada in the Olympics quarter finals. Coming off that embarrassing performance, he's played at a about .500 winning percentage with a save % around .900. Those are not typical numbers for the normally steady Russian. The good news for the Sharks is that we're looking at a similar story on the other end of the rink. Craig Anderson looked like a Vezina candidate half way through the season, before going into a serious funk of his own after the break. Both goalies are limping into the playoffs, and the guy who can find his form may ultimately decide this series.

Offense:

Both teams light the lamp at a pretty good pace, so this series has the potential to be pretty high scoring. Only Washington and Vancouver put up more than the Sharks this season, thanks in large part to the star trio of Thornton, Marleau and Heatley. When together, this may be the most lethal line in the NHL. Beyond that line, the Sharks still have some depth scorers, such as Clowe, Pavelski, and Setoguchi. All told, this is a hard team to keep off the scoresheet.
The Avalanche surprised everyone this season, particular when it came to their goalscoring. Few expected this team to put up the totals they did, featuring a host of youngsters. 9 players chipped in ten or more goals, and that's not counting Peter Mueller's 9 in 15 games with the Avs. If Mueller can return from his late-season concussion, this team can run with just about anyone offensively.

Defense:

This is one area that the Sharks clearly outclass the Avalanche. The Sharks possess several quality defensemen, including one of best puck movers in the game in Dan Boyle. Rob Blake has shown that he still has the fire in his 40's, and can still fire the puck. They also have the likes of Douglas Murray and Marc-Edward Vlasic to shut down the opposition.
The Avalanche don't possess the star power that the Sharks can boast. They've done a respectable job this season, but it's unlikely they can withstand the Sharks' offense over a 7 game series.

Outlook:

Should be a fun one to watch, but don't expect a repeat of last year's meltdown. The 2010 Avalanche are not the 2009 Ducks.

Prediction:

Sharks in 5.

Series:

0-0

Chicago Blackhawks (2)

Nashville Predators (7)

Overview:

The temptation is to see this as an easy pick for the home team, but a closer look reveals that these two teams are not that far apart. Both squads enter the playoffs 6-3-1 in their last 10. Their road records are almost identical. The separation comes at home, where Chicago won 29 compared to 25 for Nashville.

Until he gets in there and wins a couple of games, the doubters will point to goaltending as the potential weak link in a powerful Blawkhawk lineup. That's a bit perplexing, given the fact that only 4 playoff teams allowed less goals than Chicago this season. Niemi's GAA of 2.25 places him 4th in the league. His 7 shutouts in 39 games is also pretty impressive. Niemi has clearly ousted Huet as the goalie of choice in the Windy City and I wouldn't hesitate to consider him a potential Conn Smythe candidate if things go as planned for the Hawks.
The Predators have had a hard time nailing down one guy as the undisputed starter from season to season. However, that's not necessarily due to poor play. It just seems that every year, a different guy steps up and goes on a tear. This season, it's Rinne's turn again. 32 wins and a.911 save percentage are good numbers, and he tied for second in the league with 7 shutouts. Tough to say who has the edge here, but neither squad should be too nervous about their goaltending.

Offense:

These two teams couldn't be more different when it comes to putting points on the board. The Predators rely on timely goalscoring up and down their roster, with just two 20-goal scorers in their lineup (Hornqvist and Erat). The Hawks boast 8 such scorers and another 3 who put up 10 or more. With stars like Toews, Kane, and Hossa, the Hawks are the best in the West at putting the puck in the net.

Defense:

If you had to rank the top 3 defenses in the league, it would be hard to keep either of these teams off the list. Nashville has some of the best young blueliners in the game with Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Dan Hamhuis, Cody Franson, and Denis Grebeshkov. All five of these players are responsible in their own end and can contribute offensively. If the Predators are to win a series or two this time around, it will be mostly due the play of these fellows.
The Hawks aren't all that far behind when it comes to star power on the back end. Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith showed the world what they can do in the Olympics. Keith is a front runner for the Norris Trophy. And we haven't mentioned the big money man, Brian Campbell. If he can be ready to play in the first round, the Hawks will match the Preds evenly on defense.

Outlook:

The Preds will give the Hawks more trouble than they had hoped for in the opening round, but Chicago will ultimately prevail and take a big step toward ending their half a century Cupless run.

Prediction:

Chicago in 6.

Series:

0-0

Vancouver Canucks (3)

LA Kings (6)

Overview:

This is the hardest series in Round 1 to call. Both teams have shown streaks of inconsistency throughout the season, and neither squad enters the playoffs on much of a high note.

You'd think after winning the Gold medal that the doubters would leave Roberto Luongo alone. Unfortunately, he hasn't done much lately to help his cause. In terms of numbers, Luongo has been downright awful since winning Olympic Gold. With a GAA of 3.42 and a save percentage of .874 since February, it's a wonder this team is even in the playoffs, let alone starting off on home ice. And the memory of the final game in last year's playoffs is still burned in the minds of Vancouver fans. More than anyone else this post-season, the heat is on Mr. Luongo.
The Kings have a similar story to tell in net. Jonathan Quick stormed out of the gate this year. He led all goalies in wins going into the break. Since then, he's had a whale of a time winning at all. He finished the year with an impressive 39 wins. The problem is that he hit that mark 9 games ago. If Quick falters in the first two games, don't be surprised to see Bernier make an appearance. Although used sparingly, he's a perfect 3-0 on the season, including 2 wins in the last two weeks.

Offense:

The Canucks have had a reputation over the years as a team without enough firepower up front to win. Something obviously changed in Vancouver, as the Canucks find themselves as the highest scoring team in the West this season. Obviously, much of that has to do with the play of the Sedin brothers. No one in the world would have picked Henrik Sedin to win the scoring title, particularly with his brother missing a month of action. The reality is that if Daniel hadn't missed so much time, he might have given Henrik a good run for his money at the title himself. Unfortunately for the Kings, the story doesn't end there, as the brothers only finished 3rd and 4th in team goal scoring. Alex Burrows and Mikael Samuelsson both topped 35 on the year, while Ryan Kessler and Mason Raymond provided 25 more a piece. That's a lot of goals to go around on the top two lines.
Had the playoffs started in December, the Kings would have been a much more intimidating bunch, particularly on offense. Out of the gate, the line of Ryan Smyth, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams was the best in hockey. Then injuries kicked in. While Kopitar still enjoyed his best the best numbers of his career, his pace slowed considerably in the second half. Smyth and Williams are also still looking to find that early season magic, which doesn't bode well for LA's chances.

Defense:

What used to be Vancouver's biggest strength has become a bit of a weakness in the past couple seasons. Salo, Ehrhoff, and Edler are respectable options, but don't strike much fear in the hearts of opponents. With Willie Mitchell still out with a concussion, the Canucks are missing their best defenseman. The Kings are in a little better position on the back end. They boast one of the best players in the game in Drew Daughty. Daughty has emerged as a Norris candidate in just his second season. Penguin fans will also tell you the value of Rob Scuderi come playoff time. He'll block as many shots as the goalie on some nights.

Outlook:

Flip a coin on this one. If the Sedins can keep dishing up the magic, and Luongo can shake the funk out of his head, Vancouver can do some damage. I'm going with the underdog in this case. LA can bring three lines at the suspect Vancouver defense and will ultimately wear them down.

Prediction:

LA in 7.

Series:

0-0

Phoenix Coyotes (4)

Detroit Redwings (5)

Overview:

Does anyone really consider the Redwing to be the underdog in this series? Detroit's reputation, and recent hot streak would make them favorites against just about any opponent. It's a shame that after such a great season, the Coyotes draw Detroit in Round 1. Then again, perhaps the feel good story has just begun.

Despite the overdue, yet unexpected emergence of Jimmy Howard, the advantage in this category without a doubt goes to Bryzgalov. Since being picked up off waivers by Phoenix, Bryzgalov has been one of the best and most consistent goaltenders in the league. When given the chance in Anaheim, he performed admirably in a short playoff debut. He's undoubtedly the MVP of the Coyotes team and can win a couple of games for his franchise on his own. The jury is still out on Howard. His play in the second half of the season has been enough to put him at the top of the Calder candidates. Since the break, he's won more games than any other goalie, and his GAA is approaching 2.00 over that span. And don't forget, should he falter, their backup goalie may be the best playoff goalie of the past decade.

Offense:

So just how did Phoenix win 50 games with this offense? Their 225 is the least of any playoff team in the West. They had just one 20-goal scorer in Radim Vrbata, and their leading point getter (Shane Doan) totaled a measly 55 points. The most threatening players on this squad were cast offs of other teams acquired at the trade deadline. Wojtek Wolski and Lee Stempniak have both contributed at a point a game since coming to the desert, and may represent their best hope of squeaking out a couple of wins.
The Redwings are a tale of two season, particularly on offense. With key injuries all over the lineup, the Wings stumbled mightily out of the gate. Their team, and their offense, found their form over the past couple months. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are back to playing keep away with the puck and managed to salvage respectable seasons of 70 points a piece. Franzen and Holmstrom are back to sticking to their rear ends in the face of frustrated goaltenders, while deflecting blind shots in the upper corner. In other words, what you would expect from the Wings heading into the playoffs.

Defense:

Yes, he's slowed down a bit at age 40, but Niklas Lidstrom is still the best the game has to offer when it matters most. And if you watched the Olympics, you'll recall a guy named Brian Rafalski who took control of the USA offense when they needed some key goals. Add in the intimidation of Kronwall, and you start to see a pretty steady crew helping out their rookie goalie.
As for the Coyotes, they must be doing something right. Phoenix allowed just 202 goals on the year, which is the best in the Conference. Ed Jovanovski missed his normal couple of weeks, but still finished with 10 goals on the year. Keith Yandle has recently emerged as a power play genius for Phoenix and will be a key to any success they have.

Outlook:

As much as it pains me, it just doesn't make sense to bet against Detroit at this point, particularly against a team so incapable of scoring goals.